The Early Methodist Preachers I have been asked to speak on the subject of the early Methodist preachers – their content and their method. Henry Bett wrote: “The world has seldom seen a more wonderful company of men as the early Methodist preachers, and yet their extraordinary quality has been very little realized by those who have written about the rise of Methodism. The fact is that the greatness of John Wesley has obscured our sense of the remarkable gifts of his helpers. But, great as Wesley was, he could never have done the miraculous work he did without their aid.” The Early Methodist Preachers p.9 The same writer tells us that in 1791, the year of Wesley‟s death there were more than 130,000 Methodists in Britain and America. Added to this there were in the region of a million adherents. All this is being accomplished in less than 50 years. We are looking at the body of men who under God changed the face of our country. Fortunately in 1778 Wesley asked these men, to produce short auto- biographies of their lives and work, with the aim of publishing them in successive editions of the Arminian Magazine ( later to be known as the Methodist Magazine) between 1778 and 1811. Many of these biographers are collected by Thomas Jackson in 1837 – 1838 and published in three volumes as The Lives of the Early Methodist Preachers. Early in the 20th century they were republished under the title of Wesley‟s Veterans. The following tribute has been given to them. These, and others like them, were the men who made Methodism, confessors of which any Church would have a right to be proud, and the remembrance of their steadfastness and devotion ought to kindle a new fire of enthusiasm in the men of our own time. The moral of their lives is summed up in the stirring words of the Methodist Revival uttered by President Roosevelt. “If we are to advance in broad humanity, in kindness, in the spirit of brotherhood, exactly as we advance in our conquest over the hidden forces of nature, it must be by developing strength virtue, and virtue in strength, by encouraging and training men who shall be both good and strong, both gentle and valiant, -- men who scorn wrong doing, and who, at the same time, have both the courage and the strength to strive mightily for the right.” The Roots of Methodism W.B. Fitzgerald p. 119 How did they come about? First by way of lay preaching, almost simultaneously in several places laymen began to preach the Gospel. As early as 1735 Howell Harris had began to form what he called praying societies in Wales, there were soon about 30 of these set up. Out of the fellowship and practice of sharing testimonies men began to exhort others to repent of their sins and seek salvation through Christ. Wesley met Harris in 1739 and through his influence began to consider the principle of lay preaching. As George Eayrs remarks: “Wesley was at first very reluctant to sanction lay preaching. This development owed much to the appreciation and courage of godly women. Lady Huntingdon urged Thomas Maxfield to use his gifts; Susanna Wesley defended him when he did so; and aged Mrs. Canning of Evesham said to Wesley concerning Thomas Westell, „ stop him at your peril.‟ He preaches the truth, and the lord owns him as truly as He does you or your brother.” New History of Methodism p.292 We know that John Cennick in 1739 preached to a gathering of 500 colliers at Kingswood Bristol and “Many believed in that hour.” Cennick at that time was a mere layman. Wesley sanctioned 1 Cennick‟s preaching but rather inconsistently would have put a stop to Maxfield who Wesley had appointed as his assistant at the Foundery in London as an expounder of the Scriptures. During Wesley‟s absence Maxwell‟s expounding developed into preaching, Wesley hearing of this hastened back to put a stop to it. His mother persuaded him from such a course commenting: “Take care what you do with respect to that young man, for he is as truly called of God to preach as you are. Examine what have been the fruits of his preaching and hear also yourself.” Ibid p.293 He took heed of his mother‟s council and was constrained to say, “It is the Lord: let Him do what seemeth Him good.” Lesley F. Church- speaks of the divine inevitability which brought about the appointing of these men. At first Wesley could count on a number of his brethren amongst the Church of England ministers who would associate with his work. For various reasons some of these pulled back, and at the same time the work was growing, the numbers who could direct it were pitiably inadequate. It was soon obvious to Wesley that he must find “helpers”, and give them some sort of authorization. “The Gospel which Methodism proclaimed was one of conscious, personal salvation, and many of those who accepted it, entered into a rich living experience, were constrained to proclaim it to their neighbours. Later they learned to sing: What we have felt and seen With confidence we tell. And publish to the sons of men The signs infallible.” More about Early Methodist People p.99 It was this fire that burned in the soul of those early converts which found some of its expression in the ministries of those early itinerants. Forty such preachers were at work by the year 1744 who whilst Wesley went about the country, took oversight of the societies and preached in their own localities. Wesley defends their position in his Appeal to men of Reason and Religion. He points out that our Lord Himself was a layman: “Is this not the carpenter?” “Wesley had grateful recollections of the Moravian mechanic and lay preacher, Christian David, who at Herrnhut had been as an angel of God to him, learned and in holy orders though he was. He dared not stop men whom he saw and heard doing the like service to others, else unhelped. Often the lay preachers had their own sharp replies for their clerical critics. A clergyman told a North Country lay preacher that he was not qualified to preach, astonished him and drew the brusque retort, Qualified! You say that? Why, without your gown you dare na, and without your book you could na, and without your pay you would na. And I do without all three.” Ibid p.294 Itinerant Preachers As the lay preachers multiplied and their powers developed they began to itinerate like Wesley and Whitfield. Methodist Societies at this time were springing up in many parts of the country, circuits were being formed and the need was for men to visit these societies and preach to and teach the people.( Wesley had early resolved not to strike one blow where he could not follow up the blow. p.280) “The circuit system another distinguishing feature of Methodism developed gradually. Such clergy of the Church of England as assisted the Wesley‟s remained in their residences, and exercised a wide ministry round such centres. 2 John Lenton argues that some of the early itinerants worked through and in conjunction with the parish ministries of men such as Grimshaw of Howarth, Sellon of Breedon, Fletcher of Madeley and later John Crosse of Bradford, David Simpson of Macclesfield and John Eyton of Wellington. Vincent Perronet, the Vicar of Shoreham in Kent, who was affectionately called by Charles Wesley “the Archbishop of the Methodists”, and who always gave the Wesley‟ands an eager welcome to his church, and gathered his people into classes after the Methodist fashion. Another stong supporter of the Wesley‟s was John Berridge the Vicar of Everton in Bedfordshire. He was a Senior Fellow Clare College, Cambridge, an able scholar, and a brilliant wit. The experience of conversion came to him with extraordinary power, and the college weight became a passionate evangelist. He used his sanctified wit his talents of drole illustrations to reach the heart and mind of the village labourer. Berridge remained a bachelor to the end of his life, and thought that marriage was a great hindrance to an itinerant preacher, saying that it had slackened Charles Wesley‟s missionary passion, and that it would have done the same for John Wesley and George Whitfield “if God in his good providence had not been pleased to send them a brace of ferrets”. Scenes of revival were witnessed at Everton, and Berridge, travelling as an itinerant preacher, spread the flame of his message through the villages round about his parish. John Wesley often visited Berridge, and speaks with enthusiasm of him and his work. It was Berridge‟s method to follow the Methodist plan. “ Preaching”, said Berridge “ kindles the fire, but Societies keep the flame alive.” He was one of the most devoted and picturesque figures of the Revival, a great but not blind admirer of Wesley. He strongly disassociated himself from Wesley when he thought that Wesley had taken action which indicated that the Methodists would separate from the Church of England. Berridge is best revealed in his epitaph, written, except the date, by his own hand: “Here lies the earthly remains the John Berridge, late Vicar of Everton, an itinerant servant of Jesus Christ, who loved his Master and his work; and after running His errands many years, was called to wait on Him above. Reader, art thou born again? No salvation without the new birth! I was born in sin, February 1716.